The new guy who moved in across the street was a real heartthrob, sporting an impressive eight-pack.
On the first day, I couldn't help but admire his chiseled physique from afar.
The next day, as I was filling in for Rick, I was surprised to find him up at the lectern.
He had a charming smile and was holding the roll sheet as he glanced at me.
"Well, well, Rick," he said, adjusting his glasses and eyeing my knee-length skirt. "Didn't expect this. Looks like you're quite into crossdress after all."
1
I never thought I'd find myself in such an embarrassing situation.
No, I was not Rick Perry, and I certainly wasn't into crossdressing.
Rick was my little brother, and I was Lily Perry.
Up until I turned twenty-six, I thought our names had a certain charm.
That was until I met Andrew Wayne—the handsome guy living right across from me, who also happened to be Rick's professor.
Now, sitting in front of a class of over forty students, I felt utterly humiliated.
"You're Rick, right?" Andrew asked, a smug grin plastered on his face that made my blood boil.
Honestly, I wanted to unleash my inner firecracker, to scream at him and storm out in a huff.
But I couldn't. Right now, I wasn't Lily; I was just a temporary stand-in for Rick, who had paid me 500 bucks to cover for him.
Here I was, swallowing my pride for a measly 500 dollars.
"Yes," I replied, forcing the words out through clenched teeth.
My cheeks burned hotter than a summer day, but thankfully, Andrew didn't press me further.
"Alright, take a seat. Don't forget to swing by my office after class," he said, dismissing me with a wave.
I hurried to my desk and shot Rick a WhatsApp message. [Little bro, you're about to flunk.]
Rick replied: [Huh?]
[Get back to school ASAP. The jig is up.]
The first time I had a civil conversation with Rick was in Andrew's office.
He was lounging back, sipping coffee, and finally asked, "So, what's going on here?"
Before Rick could open his mouth, I decided to come clean.
I laid it all out—how Rick had lured me into this mess with cash and how he was skipping class to go on dates with his crush.
"Is that so?" Andrew's smile was as warm as spring sunshine, but it sent shivers down my spine.
"Sir, I know I messed up," Rick said, bowing his head in apology while simultaneously pushing my head down as if to hide me.
I was speechless.
Andrew sighed. "You know, when it comes to skipping class, the only outcome is a failing grade."
Rick looked like he was about to burst into tears.
"But…" Andrew's tone shifted. "There's another option."
Rick perked up, his voice trembling with hope. "What do you want me to do, sir?"
"You don't have to do anything," Andrew said, pointing at me. "Just have her join you for class from now on."
Is anyone going to step in here? Who has a twenty-six-year-old woman in college?
Before I could firmly refuse, Rick swiftly locked my throat with his arm, cutting off my protest. "Thanks, Professor! My sister says she's totally on board!"
In the blink of an eye, we bolted out of the office. Once we hit the playground, Rick finally released me.
Just as I was about to slap him across the face, he held up a finger.
"Five."
"Five hundred bucks to buy me off? Dream on!"
"Five thousand!"
My hand froze just an inch from his face.
I extended it toward him instead. "Deal!"
That night, I received a friend request: [It's Andrew.]
I guessed my brother had given him my WhatsApp number.
I glanced at my phone, tossed it onto the couch, and settled in with some chips to binge-watch my show.
But then, my phone buzzed with a voice message, "You wouldn't want your brother to flunk, would you?"
Fine, I get it. The phrase "Hell hath no fury like a man scorned" should be passed around.
I accepted his friend request and headed to the kitchen for a drink.
The kitchen window faced the opposite building.
As I casually glanced out, my heart nearly stopped.
Andrew was on the same floor, wrapped in a towel, standing in his living room, showing off the same chiseled abs I'd seen the night before.
Nosebleed alert!
Damn it, who doesn't close the curtains when they're at home in their underwear?
That was what I was thinking, but my eyes had other ideas.
They were glued to him, completely honest about my interest.
I guess I've shown my hand—I'm a bit of a perv.
Meanwhile, I noticed Andrew was busy tapping away at his phone.
My phone buzzed. It was a WhatsApp message from Andrew.
The first message read: [Stop staring.]
What? Did he catch me being a creep?
The second message followed: [Come over.]
If I'm not mistaken, he's inviting me to his place?
I replied: [Come over to your place? It's late, just the two of us. What for?]
He quickly shot back: [I'll whip up something special for you.]
[And, you can look to your heart's content.]
Chapter 2Could I, Lily, really be the kind of girl who lets her desires run wild?
Yes, I am.
Before my brain could catch up, my body had already made its choice. When I found myself standing at Andrew's door, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
He had called me over in the dead of night, half-naked, with the curtains wide open.
What is he thinking?
I stood there, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. Is he some kind of twisted exhibitionist? Has he summoned me here to satisfy his strange cravings?
A cold sweat trickled down my back, and my feet instinctively began to retreat.
Just then, the heavy door swung open.
Andrew stood there, bare-chested, his muscles defined.
Without his glasses, he looked different—more alluring, radiating the fresh scent of a shower, completely shedding the facade of the charming professor I had seen earlier.
He seemed taken aback for a moment, but then his surprise melted into a smile. "So, you actually came to check it out?"
I barely registered his words. My gaze was glued to his abs.
Oh my God, forgive me.
I hadn't been in a man's embrace in twenty-six years, hadn't kissed anyone in ages, and the last time I'd even brushed against a guy was when the delivery guy accidentally touched my hand while handing over my food.
I had played by the rules for so long; this was my reward.
Just as I was getting lost in the fantasy of Andrew's perfect physique, my earlier wild imaginings of a thrilling mystery plot faded away.
Leaning casually against the doorframe, Andrew tossed me a piece of paper. "Hey, what's up?"
I blinked, confused.
He pointed to my face. "You've got some blood on your nose…"
"Seriously?" I felt my cheeks flush.
"Yeah, it's about to drip into your mouth." He handed me a bag of dried dates, too.
I felt like I was dreaming.
In my dream, Andrew stood half-naked, grinning at me, beckoning me with a finger.
"Come here."
Just as I was about to touch his abs, music started playing in my ears.
"You're getting married, and I'm not the groom…"
I jolted awake, realizing there was no handsome man, no Andrew with those chiseled abs. Just my phone was vibrating on the nightstand, displaying a call from "The Food Thief."
"Hello?"
"Lily!" Rick's voice crackled with urgency on the other end. "Where are you? Why aren't you in class yet?!"
"Class?"
It took me a moment to piece together the chaos of yesterday.
Nothing much had happened, really.
I had grabbed the thing he'd given me and fled in embarrassment, my head down, feeling utterly foolish.
Andrew hadn't called me back; his soft laughter echoed in my mind, amplifying my embarrassment.
"Oh, I remember now. What time is your class?"
"Eight! It's eight already! The classes are all at eight, and it's seven forty-seven! Don't tell me you're still on your way!"
His frantic tone made me hesitate to admit I was still in bed.
If I told him the truth, Rick might just leap out of the classroom in a panic.
For his sake, I decided to hold my tongue.
I rummaged through my stuff to find my long-forgotten student ID. Thankfully, the security guard didn't scrutinize it too closely, ignoring the fact that I'd graduated four years ago and letting me through the gates.
By eight-fifteen, I was huddled by the classroom door, ready to sneak in through the back.
Just as I took my first step inside, Andrew's voice floated down from above. "Rick's sister, you're here pretty early today."
Of course, he caught me and pulled me to the front row.
To my horror, I spotted Rick in the corner, glaring daggers at me as if he wished he could swallow me whole.
Finally, the class ended, and I let out a sigh of relief, but just as I did, a shadow loomed over me.
No, wait—two shadows.
I looked up to see Andrew's smile, paired with Rick's incredulous expression.
"Want to grab a bite?" Andrew asked, his tone casual.
"Thanks, but I'll just have my brother take me out to eat," I quickly replied, trying to avoid any awkwardness.
Rick, clearly worried I might blurt out something embarrassing again, slid next to me and discreetly pinched my side, just like when we were kids.
It reminded me of the time I accidentally broke a vase and threatened to blame him in front of Mom, pinching him to keep him quiet.
I stifled a wince and forced a smile. "Yeah, Rick can take me out."
In my mind, I was already plotting how to tell our parents about Rick's antics when we got home for the holidays.
But Andrew wasn't having any of it.
"I'm still getting familiar with the cafeteria here. If you don't mind, could you show me around? I'd love to know which food stalls are the best."
With that, it became clear that refusing him would put us in a tough spot.
"Sure, of course, Mr. Wayne!" Rick managed to muster a smile that looked more like a grimace.
The three of us walked in silence, the atmosphere feeling oddly strained.
With Andrew's striking looks and height, we attracted quite a few curious glances from passersby.
Halfway through our meal, Rick's phone chimed with a WhatsApp notification. He snatched it up, his eyes lighting up as he began typing furiously.
Two minutes later, he announced he had to leave due to "urgent business."
My gut told me the message was from his crush.
As he made his escape, I figured I should come up with an excuse to follow.
Before I could think of anything, Andrew said casually, "I'll give you a ride home later and drop something off for you."
I nearly choked on a piece of potato, my mind racing. "You're… giving me something?"
My words came out jumbled, the food in my mouth making me sound like a chipmunk caught in the act of stealing snacks.
Andrew couldn't help but laugh at my predicament.
When he smiled for real, he looked even more handsome than that day in the office—like a million bucks.
But there was something else, too.
Despite only having met him a handful of times, I felt an inexplicable pull toward him, as if he had some magnetic charm.
I swore it wasn't just because of his chiseled abs and striking features!
Definitely not!
Andrew drove me to my apartment building, and just as I opened the car door, he called out to me.
"What's up?" I turned, puzzled.
He handed me a box.
"Here's your package. Open it when you get home."
Then, lowering his voice, he added, "It'll be really useful for you."
With that tantalizing hint, I practically sprinted upstairs, finally finding the scissors I usually couldn't locate even after half an hour of searching. I tore into the package with excitement.
Inside lay a telescope.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a WhatsApp message from Andrew.
[The phone camera isn't great, and holding it up can be tiring. Next time, you can use this to take a look.]
Chapter 3Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to actually use the telescope to spy on anyone.
After all, that kind of behavior was just plain wrong. I might have my moments of being a little too curious, but I was not that naive.
I tucked the telescope away in my storage cabinet, thinking I probably wouldn't need it anytime soon.
Andrew only had two classes a week, and for the next few days, I was blissfully free of Rick's relentless calls, which gave me a much-needed break.
After a couple of days of rest, I returned to my little dessert shop.
I might not have any extraordinary talents, but cooking and eating are definitely my strong suits.
After graduating from college, I was determined not to be just another cog in the corporate machine, so I took the plunge into entrepreneurship.
In reality, I ended up opening a small dessert shop not far from home.
It was a modest place, but the income was steady enough to keep me afloat.
I had two part-time students helping me out, and during my absence, they managed the shop just fine.
As I entered the shop, I headed straight to the kitchen, eager to experiment with a new flavor for my cheese jars. I lost track of time, completely absorbed in my work until the two girls popped in to let me know they were leaving. Only then did I realize how much time had passed.
The school had a curfew, so I urged them to hurry home while I cleaned up the rest. I tidied up the entire shop, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I prepared to turn off the lights and call it a day. Just then, I heard the tinkling of the wind chimes hanging on the door.
"Sorry, we're closing for the day…"
But my words trailed off as I caught sight of the visitor.
Andrew stood there, still holding the door open, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
What a surprise! Why do I keep running into him everywhere?
I stammered, my brain momentarily short-circuiting. "Haha, I didn't expect to see you here!"
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to bite my tongue.
I'd always had this embarrassing habit of rambling when I was nervous, and it hadn't changed one bit over the years.
Andrew's smile only widened at my awkwardness.
He raised the car keys in his hand. "I bet you really didn't see this coming.
"Because I was waiting outside for you to finish work this afternoon to give you a ride home."
In a moment of sheer panic, my finger pressed the light switch, plunging the shop into darkness.
The only thing I could hear was the rapid thumping of my heart, reminding me of what Andrew had just said. He had been waiting for me.
The feeling of surprise was fleeting.
I mean, guess what? This steel-hearted girl has been single for twenty-six years for a reason!
As we stepped outside, Andrew's profile was illuminated by the dim streetlights, and it suddenly hit me—how does he know exactly where to find me? How has he managed to wait outside for me all afternoon without me noticing?
I knew it!
He is definitely a creep!
I pressed myself against the car door, lips pursed, trying to figure out what Andrew was really up to.
The last time he gave me a telescope, and now this?
Just as I was about to make a run for it, Andrew grabbed my wrist.
"Where do you think you're going? Am I that scary?" he asked, his tone teasing.
It was ten-thirty at night, and the only light came from the street lamps, casting eerie shadows on the empty path.
Seriously, do you think I shouldn't be scared?
"N... no, not at all! I'm just heading up now, see you later!"
In a bid for self-preservation, my legs took off before my brain could catch up, bolting into the building without even looking back.
Even after I got inside, my heart was still racing.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
My first thought was that it was a call from Andrew, and I fumbled to pull it out, my hands shaking as I prepared to answer.
"Hey, sis, it's me."
Oh, it's Rick.
Hearing his voice made me relax completely, and I collapsed onto the sofa.
"What is it? Spit it out."
For once, Rick didn't argue with my impatient tone. Instead, he asked if I wanted to join him for an escape room game tomorrow.
"A bunch of my classmates are coming—three guys from the sports program, two from dance, and…"
"What time? Where? I'm in!"
The best way to get rid of my worries, of course, was to see some handsome guys.
The next day, I showed up at the meeting spot an hour early, eagerly waiting for Rick to bring along his good-looking friends.
However, instead of charming guys, I was met with someone else entirely.
I double-checked five times. The person standing in front of me was, indeed, Andrew. Without his glasses today, he was almost unrecognizable. His coat highlighted his impressive physique, and his hairstyle was more casual compared to the formal look he had at school.
At first glance, I thought he was just another college guy waiting for his girlfriend.
I slowly turned, hoping to sneak away unnoticed.
Just then, my dear little brother called out, "Sis!" causing me to freeze in place.
I felt a warm presence behind me, and Andrew's voice came from above, "Lily?"
Even if Rick had brought a hundred handsome guys, I would never forgive him for calling me "sis" like that.
I stiffened and forced a smile. "Well… what a coincidence."
Rick, seemingly oblivious to the brewing storm, panted as he ran over to me, followed by four or five tall guys.
"See, I wasn't lying. I really did bring some handsome guys…"
He didn't get to finish his sentence.
At that moment, Andrew's smile, which had been gentle and inviting, slowly faded at the mention of "handsome guys."
"Oh? Am I interrupting something?"
Andrew's frown was fleeting; in the next moment, his face was as warm and charming as ever. Despite his gentle tone, I still shivered.
"No, not at all. We just arrived too. Um, Mr. Wayne, are you here for the escape room as well?"
I could tell Rick was bending over backward to accommodate for his credits.
"Not exactly, but if you don't mind, I'd like to join you. I'm curious about what you young people enjoy."
Andrew's offer felt more like a veiled threat.
I was sure that if we didn't let him join, Rick's best-case scenario for his grade would be an F.
Rick, no doubt catching onto this and seeing my numerous pleading glances to make him refuse Andrew, bravely patted his chest.
"Of course, Mr. Wayne!"
Chapter 4I swear, I'm never going to forgive Rick for this!
Not only did he agree to let Andrew join us for the escape room, but somehow, Andrew and I ended up on the same team, given the task of completing a side mission together.
"Do we really have to be paired up?" I asked into the walkie-talkie, hoping for a miracle.
Two seconds later, the cold, unyielding voice crackled back, "Yes."
Fine, I guess that's just my luck.
Andrew must have sensed my anxiety.
As we walked through the pitch-black corridor, he stepped in front of me, one arm shielding me from the darkness.
"I'll lead the way. If you're scared, just close your eyes and hold onto my hand."
I hesitated for a moment, scanning the inky blackness around us, but instinct kicked in. I shut my eyes and grasped his hand tightly.
Maybe it was just my imagination, or perhaps fear heightened my senses, but I felt a strange sense of safety whenever I was near Andrew.
It was as if, no matter how treacherous the path ahead, if he said it was okay, then it truly was.
But…
My past experiences told me that if I felt something was off, it probably was.
As we entered a room to grab an item, an NPC suddenly jumped out, startling both Andrew and me. I nearly crumpled to the floor, but Andrew caught me just in time, preventing me from landing hard.
That wasn't even the worst part.
The real disaster struck when I scrambled to open the door and escape, only to find the handle wouldn't budge, no matter how hard I pressed.
I assumed it was part of the game's design, so I kept at it, pushing the handle for five solid minutes. Eventually, the NPC playing the ghost couldn't watch any longer. He patted me on the shoulder and said, "Take a breather, I'll call someone to help us out."
Even the staff couldn't get the door open. They ended up having to call a locksmith to change the lock entirely.
While we waited, I huddled in a corner, wrapping my arms around myself.
The truth was, I'd always been afraid of the dark.
When I was little, I once locked myself in a room, and my parents didn't find out until they got home from work. They couldn't pry the door open, but luckily, there was a small window at the top of the old door.
A boy from next door, older than me, broke the window and pulled me out. That was how the whole mess ended.
But when he handed me over, he let go too soon, and I ended up hitting my head on the ground before my dad could catch me.
I heard that the boy cried all night after getting in trouble for it.
My mom always joked that ever since that fall, I hadn't been quite right in the head—she might as well have said I was a little slow.
Later, I worried that if I really did lose my wits, no one would want me. So, once my head healed, I went over to his house and asked him if, in the event that I did go silly, he would still marry me.
I'll never forget what he said: "I'll always take care of you."
I was proposed to as a kid, even if it was me who brought it up first.
As those memories flooded back, I found myself hugging my knees tighter.
"Lily, where are you?" Andrew's voice cut through the darkness.
"Right here!" I shouted, then quickly lowered my hand, realizing he couldn't see me in this pitch-black room.
Following my voice, Andrew settled down next to me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body through his coat.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. I instinctively wanted to shift away from Andrew to create some space between us.
But then, a blood-curdling scream pierced through the air outside, and before I could think, I clung to Andrew, burying my face in the crook of his neck.
His body stiffened, but I didn't notice. All I could think about was escaping, getting out of this place.
After what felt like an eternity, Andrew's hand gently rested on my back, soothingly stroking me as he murmured, "It's okay. I'm here. We'll be out of here soon…"
As I nestled against him, listening to his comforting words, a memory from years ago flashed through my mind.
That boy had said something similar. "Don't be scared, Lily. I'll get you out…"
Just as I was lost in that recollection, the door swung open, flooding the room with blinding light. I squinted, my head spinning slightly.
"Lily, are you okay?" Rick burst in, and his eyes widened at the sight of me wrapped up in Andrew's embrace.
In the corner, the NPC playing the ghost looked utterly bewildered.
"What the… you two?" Rick stammered, clearly shocked into silence.
I shot up from Andrew's arms, waving my hands frantically. "It's not what you think! I was just scared, and he was comforting me! Don't go telling Mom and Dad!" I dragged Rick aside, whispering about how we needed to keep this under wraps.
Meanwhile, Andrew stood off to the side, quietly observing the entire scene. I didn't catch what he muttered under his breath, drowned out by Rick's commotion. "Looks like she really doesn't remember me at all…"
After the chaos of the escape room, Andrew had shielded me from the scare that nearly made me bolt for the walls.
For the next month, I attended his classes, showing up on time and keeping my head down.
He didn't bother me anymore, and for a while, everything seemed calm.
But the calm was just the eye of the storm.
On Sunday, I went to the package station to pick up my deliveries.
I had hoarded so many items that I ended up wheeling a small cart home.
As I passed by Andrew's building, I spotted a delivery guy heading upstairs.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I exchanged a quick glance with him. That was my first mistake.
The delivery guy mistook me for some other delivery guy and approached me with a wide grin. "Hey! There's a package upstairs that needs to be delivered right to the door. I'm in a rush to get to the hospital—my wife's about to give birth! Can you help me out and take it up?"
My focus zeroed in on the words "give birth."
Determined to make sure he got to see his kid born, I nodded vigorously and assured him I'd handle it.
But once he left, my smile froze when I glanced at the recipient's name on the package.
Andrew.
I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and looked again. Yep, still, Andrew.
Honestly, did the universe really need to throw so many coincidences my way?
After throwing a mini tantrum in my head, I made my way to Andrew's front door, clutching the package.
As I waited for someone to answer, I took a peek at the delivery slip, and my eyes widened at the bold letters: [Kidney deficiency, sometimes due to overexertion.]
What in the world was inside?